6 Realbricks Alternatives

When evaluating Realbricks alternatives for fractional real estate investing, the choice ultimately comes down to whether you prioritize monthly income, fee minimization, or liquidity flexibility. While Realbricks offers debt-free properties with quarterly distributions, many investors seek platforms providing more frequent cash flow, lower ongoing fees, and broader market diversification. This comprehensive guide examines the top Realbricks alternatives, with particular emphasis on why Ark7 emerges as the superior choice for investors seeking monthly passive income through rental property shares.

Key Takeaways

• Ark7 leads as the top Realbricks alternative – Delivers zero ongoing asset management fees, monthly dividend distributions, and $20 minimum investments
• Realbricks focuses on debt-free properties – Offers 100% mortgage-free assets with 30-day liquidity but charges 0.75% quarterly AUM fees
• Monthly income defines Ark7 – Only platform offering monthly vs quarterly distributions for consistent cash flow
• Fee structure matters – Ark7’s zero AUM fees save thousands over time compared to competitors charging annual fees
• Choose by investment goals – Ark7 for monthly income and fee minimization; Realbricks for debt-free exposure; Fundrise for hands-off diversification

Understanding Realbricks: A debt-free but quarterly-focused platform

Realbricks positions itself as a fractional real estate investment platform emphasizing debt-free property ownership and flexible liquidity. Serving investors seeking conservative real estate exposure, the platform combines mortgage-free assets with a 30-day path to secondary market trading.

Key Realbricks Strengths:

• 100% debt-free properties eliminating mortgage and interest rate risk
• 30-day liquidity path with no holding periods before secondary market access
• Higher recent yields with 8-9% realized annualized returns in recent quarters
• Individual property selection allowing investors to choose specific assets

Significant Limitations:

• Quarterly distributions providing less frequent cash flow than monthly alternatives
• Ongoing AUM fees at 0.75% quarterly (approximately 3% annually)
• Limited geographic diversification currently focused on Omaha, Nebraska only
• Higher minimum investment at $100 versus lower-entry alternatives

With properties exclusively in Omaha and expanding, Realbricks offers a conservative approach to fractional real estate but lacks the national diversification and monthly income focus that many investors seek.

Top 6 Realbricks Alternatives Ranked

1. Ark7: The best overall alternative for monthly income and fee minimization

Ark7 revolutionizes fractional real estate investing by delivering monthly cash distributions with zero ongoing asset management fees. With 220,000+ active investors and $23MM+ in property value funded, Ark7 has established itself as a leader in accessible, transparent real estate investing.

Key Ark7 Advantages:

• Lowest minimum investment at $20 per share for individual property selection
• Monthly cash distributions versus quarterly competitors
• No separate AUM fees – Ark7 holds equity stake instead of charging explicit asset management fees
• Balanced liquidity with secondary market access after 1-year minimum holding period
• SEC Regulation A+ qualified offerings with full transparency
• Individual property selection with detailed financials and market analysis
• Self-directed IRA compatibility for tax-advantaged retirement investing

Monthly Income Advantage:

Unlike Realbricks’ quarterly distributions, Ark7 provides consistent monthly cash flow that benefits income-focused investors and enables more frequent reinvestment opportunities. This monthly distribution model allows investors to build wealth through rental properties with predictable, regular income rather than waiting three months for quarterly payouts.

Fee Minimization Strategy:

Ark7’s zero ongoing asset management fees represent significant long-term savings. While Realbricks charges 0.75% quarterly (approximately 3% annually), Ark7 eliminates these recurring fees entirely. On a $10,000 investment held for 5 years, this fee difference translates to approximately $1,440 in savings that directly boosts investor returns.

National Diversification:

Ark7’s presence across 10 markets provides geographic risk mitigation that Realbricks’ single-city focus cannot match. Investors can diversify across Dallas-S9 Property Shares benefiting from 23 Fortune 500 companies in the Dallas area, Tampa-S10 properties in growing Florida markets, and Atlanta properties in the high-demand Sunbelt region.

2. Fundrise: The hands-off diversification leader

Fundrise serves investors seeking professional portfolio management without the need to select individual properties. With the lowest absolute minimum investment ($10), Fundrise offers a set-and-forget approach to real estate investing through diversified REIT structures.

Key Fundrise Advantages:

• Lowest $10 minimum investment – most accessible entry point in the industry
• Automatic diversification – fund-based model spreads risk across multiple properties
• Longest track record – 12+ years operating with $194M in dividends paid
• IRA support available – tax-advantaged investing with $1,000 minimum

Limitations to Consider:

• No property selection – fund-only model prevents choosing specific assets
• Limited liquidity – quarterly redemptions with penalties and processing delays
• Lower current yields – recent dividend yields vary
• Customer service complaints – email-based support criticized for slow response times

Fundrise excels for investors who prefer professional management and maximum diversification without wanting to research and select individual properties, but it doesn’t provide the granular control and property-specific transparency that Ark7 offers.

3. Arrived: The vacation rental specialist

Arrived focuses on fractional ownership of both single-family rentals and vacation properties, offering individual property selection with dedicated short-term rental categories. The platform caters to investors seeking exposure to the growing vacation rental market.

Key Arrived Advantages:

• Vacation rental focus – unique dedicated short-term rental property category
• Individual property selection – choose specific assets like Ark7
• Monthly/quarterly income options – flexible distribution schedules
• National property coverage – diverse geographic exposure

Significant Limitations:

• Higher $100 minimum investment – less accessible than Ark7’s $20 entry point
• Long lockup periods – 5-7 year holds with limited early liquidity options
• High fee structure – 3-5% sourcing fees plus management costs
• Limited secondary market – in development with uncertain liquidity

Arrived excels for vacation rental enthusiasts but creates higher barriers to entry and longer commitment periods compared to Ark7’s balanced approach.

4.  Lofty.ai: The blockchain-powered liquidity alternative

Lofty.ai serves investors seeking maximum liquidity through blockchain tokenization on the Algorand network. With no holding period requirements and near-real-time secondary market trading, Lofty represents a highly liquid alternative to Arrived’s longer-term holds.

Key Lofty.ai Advantages:

• Sell anytime with marketplace-based liquidity via blockchain secondary market with no lockup period
• Daily rental income distributions – among the most frequent in the industry
• Blockchain tokenization using Algorand technology
• $50 minimum investment – competitive entry point
• Individual property selection with detailed property information

Limitations to Consider:

• No mobile app – web-only platform versus competitors’ mobile applications
• Blockchain learning curve – may deter traditional investors unfamiliar with crypto
• Limited track record – founded in 2018 with less established history
• Cryptocurrency complexity – requires understanding of blockchain wallets and transactions
• Market volatility – tokenized assets may experience additional price fluctuations

Lofty.ai represents the best choice for blockchain enthusiasts and investors prioritizing maximum liquidity above all else, but the technology complexity may not appeal to traditional real estate investors seeking straightforward fractional ownership.

5. Groundfloor: The debt-focused alternative

Groundfloor specializes in real estate debt investing rather than equity ownership, offering short-term loan opportunities secured by real estate. This debt-focused approach provides a fundamentally different investment model than equity-based platforms.

Key Groundfloor Advantages:

• Fixed income returns of 10-12% on real estate-backed loans
• Short investment terms from 30 days to 360 days
• Debt security – loans are secured by real estate collateral
• No minimum investment – accessible to all investors
• Passive income model – no property management or tenant concerns

Limitations to Consider:

• Debt vs. equity structure – no property ownership or appreciation benefits
• Development risk – loans fund property renovations and developments
• Limited upside – fixed returns regardless of property performance
• Different risk profile – loan defaults versus rental income fluctuations
• No monthly income – returns paid at loan maturity

Groundfloor serves investors seeking debt-based real estate exposure but doesn’t provide the equity ownership, rental income, or property appreciation benefits of traditional fractional real estate platforms.

6. Yieldstreet: The accredited investor alternative

Yieldstreet focuses on alternative investments including real estate primarily for accredited investors. The platform offers diverse alternative asset classes beyond just real estate.

Key Yieldstreet Advantages:

• Diverse alternative investments beyond just real estate
• Accredited investor focus providing access to exclusive opportunities
• Multiple asset classes including art, marine finance, and legal receivables
• Institutional-quality offerings with professional underwriting

Significant Limitations:

• Accredited investor requirements limiting accessibility for most retail investors
• Higher minimum investments often requiring significant capital commitments
• Quarterly distributions – Less frequent than monthly alternatives
• Limited real estate focus – Real estate is just one of many alternative asset classes

Yieldstreet serves accredited investors seeking diverse alternative investments but lacks the accessibility and real estate-specific focus that most fractional real estate investors require.

Why Ark7 stands out for monthly income and fee minimization

Ark7’s dominance in fractional real estate investing stems from several unique advantages that directly address investor pain points. The platform’s zero ongoing asset management fees ensure maximum returns by eliminating the 0.75-1% annual fees charged by competitors like Realbricks and Arrived.

Monthly Distribution Leadership:

Ark7’s monthly dividend distributions represent a significant advantage for income-focused investors. While all major competitors offer only quarterly payouts, Ark7 provides consistent monthly cash flow that enables better financial planning and more frequent reinvestment opportunities. This monthly income model aligns with how most investors prefer to receive passive income from their real estate investments.

Accessibility and Diversification:

With a $20 minimum investment and presence across 10 markets, Ark7 combines accessibility with diversification that competitors cannot match. Realbricks’ $100 minimum and single-city focus limits both accessibility and geographic risk management, while Fundrise’s fund-based model eliminates individual property control.

Proven Track Record:

Ark7’s success is validated by its 220,000+ active investor community and $3.5MM+ in cash dividends paid. The platform has successfully funded properties across multiple growing markets including Dallas, Tampa, and Atlanta, demonstrating consistent execution capability and investor trust.

IRA Integration Capability:

Ark7’s integration with Millennium Trust enables tax-advantaged real estate investing through self-directed IRAs, providing retirement account flexibility that competitors like Realbricks and Arrived don’t disclose. This capability allows investors to build real estate wealth within tax-deferred or tax-free retirement accounts.

Specific use cases where each platform excels

Choose Ark7 when:

• Seeking monthly passive income rather than quarterly distributions
• Prioritizing fee minimization through zero ongoing asset management fees
• Requiring national market diversification across 10+ U.S. markets
• Needing accessible entry with $20 minimum investments
• Wanting IRA-compatible real estate investing
• Preferring individual property selection with detailed transparency

Select other platforms for:

• Debt-free property focus with maximum liquidity (Realbricks)
• Hands-off fund diversification regardless of control (Fundrise)
• Detailed property analytics and market comparables (Arrived)
• Blockchain tokenization interest (Lofty)
• Real estate debt investing vs equity ownership (Groundfloor)
• Accredited investor alternative investments (Yieldstreet)

Technical capabilities showdown

Investment Structure:

• Ark7: Direct fractional ownership in specific rental properties with monthly distributions
• Realbricks: Debt-free fractional ownership with quarterly distributions
• Fundrise: Fund-based diversified real estate exposure
• Arrived: Individual property selection with detailed analytics

Fee Structure:

• Ark7: Zero ongoing AUM fees, only 3% one-time acquisition fee
• Realbricks: 0.75% quarterly AUM fees (approximately 3% annually)
• Fundrise: 0.15-1% annual advisory/management fees
• Arrived: 1% annual AUM fees plus 3.5-5% sourcing fees

Distribution Frequency:

• Ark7: Monthly cash distributions
• All competitors: Quarterly distributions only

Geographic Coverage:

• Ark7: 10 markets nationwide including Dallas, Tampa, Atlanta
• Realbricks: Omaha, Nebraska only (expanding)
• Fundrise: National diversified fund approach
• Arrived: National individual property selection

Minimum Investment:

• Ark7: $20 per share
• Fundrise: $10 minimum
• Realbricks: $100 minimum
• Arrived: $100 minimum typical

Making the Right Choice

Selecting the ideal Realbricks alternative depends on your specific investment goals, income preferences, and risk tolerance. Ark7 emerges as the clear winner for investors prioritizing monthly income, fee minimization, and national diversification, combining proven execution with investor-friendly features.

For investors seeking consistent monthly cash flow, maximum fee efficiency, or accessible entry into multiple real estate markets, Ark7 provides the optimal balance of income frequency, cost structure, and diversification. The platform’s proven track record with 220,000+ investors, zero ongoing fees, and monthly distribution model ensures successful real estate wealth building.

The future of fractional real estate investing emphasizes accessibility, transparency, and consistent income. Ark7 leads this evolution by making real estate investment accessible to everyone with monthly distributions, transparent property details, and no hidden fees. Start building your real estate portfolio today with Ark7’s accessible $20 minimum and join the growing community of investors earning passive income through rental property shares.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Ark7 a strong alternative to platforms like Realbricks and Fundrise?

Ark7 stands out as a strong alternative due to its unique combination of monthly dividend distributions (versus quarterly for competitors), zero ongoing asset management fees, and $20 minimum investment threshold. While Realbricks focuses on debt-free properties and Fundrise offers fund-based diversification, Ark7 provides individual property selection across 10 markets with the most frequent income distributions in the fractional real estate space. This combination of accessibility, income frequency, and fee efficiency makes Ark7 particularly attractive for income-focused investors seeking maximum returns.

How does fractional real estate investing generate passive income with Ark7?

Fractional real estate investing with Ark7 generates passive income through monthly cash distributions from rental properties. When you buy rental property shares, you become a fractional owner entitled to a proportionate share of the rental income generated by the property. Ark7 professionally manages all aspects of property operations including tenant placement, maintenance, and rent collection, then distributes the net rental income to shareholders monthly. This creates a truly passive income stream where investors receive regular cash payments without any landlord responsibilities.

Can I invest in Ark7 properties with my IRA, and what are the associated fees?

Yes, you can invest in Ark7 properties with your IRA through their real estate IRA program. Ark7 partners with Millennium Trust as the IRA custodian to enable tax-advantaged real estate investing. The fee structure includes no Ark7 platform fees for opening an IRA, but Millennium Trust charges a $100 annual fee per property invested (capped at $400 annually). This IRA capability allows investors to build real estate wealth within tax-deferred (Traditional IRA) or tax-free (Roth IRA) retirement accounts while enjoying the same monthly distributions and property benefits as taxable accounts.

What kind of properties does Ark7 offer, and how are they selected?

Ark7 offers fractional shares in curated high-yield rental properties across 10+ U.S. markets, primarily focusing on single-family homes and townhomes in growing Sunbelt regions. Properties include modern constructions like the Atlanta-T3 townhome built in 2020 and established properties like the Dallas-S9 single-family home benefiting from strong job growth near 23 Fortune 500 companies. Ark7’s selection process combines technology-driven property sourcing with local market expertise, focusing on areas with strong population growth, job market strength, and rental demand fundamentals.

Is it possible to sell my shares after investing with Ark7?

Yes, it is possible to sell your shares after investing with Ark7, though there are some restrictions to be aware of. Shares can be sold on the PPEX ATS (Public Private Execution Network Alternative Trading System), which is an SEC-registered secondary trading platform operated by North Capital. However, there is a minimum 12-month holding period before shares can be listed for sale, and there’s no guarantee that an active market will develop for any particular property’s shares. Investors should be prepared to hold their shares indefinitely as liquidity is not guaranteed.

What are the typical minimum investment amounts on the Ark7 platform?

The typical minimum investment on the Ark7 platform starts as low as $20 per share for most properties, making it one of the most accessible fractional real estate platforms available. Some properties may have higher minimums starting at $100 per share, but the $20 entry point allows investors to start building a diversified real estate portfolio with minimal capital. This low barrier to entry enables investors to test the platform with small investments, build positions gradually over time, or diversify across multiple properties even with limited capital.